Chapter 16
When I wake up the next morning, the sky is dreary and gray, but thankfully, it isn’t raining.
I go sit by the fire with Katie, Cole, and Tamika and boil some water—the coffee from our challenge reward a week ago is long gone, but there’s still a bit of tea left.
I glance at Cole, who has his own mug, ignoring the feeling of warmth that’s starting to come over me every time I look at him.
I still feel bad for doubting him yesterday, but what’s done is done, and it’s not like I ever openly accused him of anything.
No, what’s really important going forward is how to keep myself from getting even more emotionally attached to him than I already am.
He notices me looking and winks at me, and I feel my neck flush. Easier said than done.
Trying to distract myself, I reflect on what happened after we got back from tribal council last night.
My allies and I tried our best not to gloat, but the sense of relief and satisfaction was palpable.
There was a lightness to our voices that wasn’t there earlier, like we’d all faced the firing squad and came away with our lives.
I’m willing to bet I wasn’t the only one who thought we were done for when Randy stood up with his idol.
Meanwhile, the three who were in the minority didn’t seem upset or angry so much as stunned.
I guess they really did believe we were targeting Ashraf, or maybe they thought Cole would vote with them.
I certainly don’t think they expected Tamika to flip, if the occasional glares they gave her as we sit around the fire were any indication.
Now, in my half-asleep state, it takes me a little while to notice that Ashraf, Jenny, and Alina are nowhere to be found.
I can only assume that they went off to strategize and try to figure out how they can dig themselves out of the hole they’re in.
I’m not particularly concerned, since, with the numbers the way they are, they’d need two people to flip to their side to have any chance.
But that doesn’t stop me from feeling vaguely disquieted.
It could just as easily have been me in their position had a few things gone their way instead of ours.
Right then, the three of them walk out of the woods, talking to each other in low voices, their expressions grim.
Alina looks over in our direction before gesturing to the other two, who immediately stop talking.
Then, with a nod, Jenny walks over to where we’re sitting, while Ashraf and Alina head over to the shelter.
“Morning, everyone,” Jenny says as she approaches us, her grim expression replaced by a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Ryan, would you mind coming to the well with me? We should probably make sure we’re full up on water in case it starts raining.”
“Sure,” I reply, giving her an equally fake smile. We’ve got more than enough water right now, but that’s beside the point. The only question is why she waited until now instead of doing this two days ago. “Let me just grab everyone’s canteens.”
A short time later, we’re on our way, walking down the familiar path to the well, trailed as always by one of the cameramen.
“I’m sorry if you and I got off on the wrong foot,” Jenny says once we’re a good distance away from the rest of the camp.
“I know I can be a bit brash at times, and that sometimes rubs people the wrong way.”
In truth, I have no idea whether she’s brash or not, because this is the first real conversation we’ve had since we met. “Don’t worry about it,” I assure her. “I’d rather you speak your mind if that’s what you want to do.”
“That’s good to know. To be honest, I think you and I could work well together if we put our minds to it.”
And there it is. “I wouldn’t be opposed to that,” I lie. “After all, you can never be too sure in this game.”
She nods. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. You never know when someone will stab you in the back. I mean, just look at what happened with Tamika last night. Your group seems tight, but can you really trust them all not to turn around and vote you out once it’s down to the final five or six?”
“I have considered that possibility,” I admit. It’s true—I’d be a fool not to consider it—but I still trust my alliance far more than I trust Jenny, my recent Cole drama notwithstanding. “I’d hate to be blindsided like that.”
“So then why not go after one of them before they can do it to you? You’d have the three of us to fall back on if you did, and it would give you a leg up on the others.”
Just then, we reach the well, and I take a moment to pretend that I’m considering her suggestion. “Let’s say I do vote with you three at the next tribal,” I say, as I fill one of the canteens. “If you had your way, who would go home next?”
“It has to be Cole.” She leans toward me, her chin held high.
“We all know he’s a physical threat. But if you really think about it, you’ll realize he’s playing a great social game too.
Everyone likes him, and he hasn’t made any enemies.
If he gets to the end, he’ll win in a landslide, and we’d have no one to blame but ourselves. ”
I do my best to keep a straight face while she talks, despite the unease that roils somewhere deep in my chest. I can’t deny that what she’s saying is true.
I’ve had many of these same thoughts myself.
But now is hardly the time to break up my alliance, especially considering all the effort we just spent to get an advantage over the Sikas.
And after yesterday, I almost feel like I owe Cole the benefit of the doubt, at least for a little while.
Still, I have to at least pretend like I’m open to the idea, if only to get more information from her. “Why didn’t you all vote for him last night?” I ask, keeping my tone as neutral as I can. “I’m not saying it’s impossible now, but surely that was your best chance.”
“Well …” She looks around, even though it’s clear nobody besides us and the cameraman are in earshot, and lowers her voice.
“To tell you the truth, we thought about it. It’s just that …
well, no offense, but we figured he was the most likely to flip on you guys.
We thought that if we could convince anyone, it would be him.
Obviously, we were wrong, but we had to try. ”
It takes some effort not to roll my eyes.
I had been wondering if the Sikas had some deeper strategy that wasn’t immediately obvious to me, and it seems that wasn’t the case.
Or, at least, Jenny isn’t willing to share it with me just yet.
“That makes sense,” I respond. “Well, you’ve given me a lot to consider. I’ll need some time to think about it.”
“Of course. That’s all I ask.” She gives me a smile as she fills up the last canteen. “Should we get back to camp? We don’t want anyone to get suspicious.”
I’m about to agree when something catches my eye, and I look down.
One of the rocks that makes up the outside of the well is loose, and there’s a patch of beige that looks out of place among the gray rocks.
Normally, I’d ignore it, but it’s the same color as the cloth that Randy pulled out of his bag last night. Could it be …?
I quickly look back up, my heart suddenly racing. “You go on ahead,” I tell her, trying to keep my voice normal. “I think I got a rock stuck in my shoe. I’ll catch up with you in a bit.”
I go down on one knee, fiddling with one of my sneakers, and thankfully, she nods and walks away without questioning me.
Once she’s turned the corner and is out of sight, I quickly move the loose stone, revealing a cloth-wrapped parcel, tied up with dark-brown string.
I grab the parcel and slip it into my pocket.
Then, I do my best to smooth my features before jogging up to meet Jenny, hoping beyond hope that she hasn’t realized that I just found a hidden immunity idol.
I only stay in the camp long enough to make an appearance before I make an excuse and go off down the beach, trailed as ever by a cameraman.
My mind is racing with possibilities, and I want to open this parcel immediately and make sure it is what I think it is.
Finding a secluded spot, I look around to ensure none of my tribemates are nearby before pulling the parcel out of my pocket and untying the strings, my hands shaking as I do.
When I see what’s inside, I let out a huge breath that I didn’t know I was holding.
There in my lap sits a bracelet with purple beads, similar to the one I saw in Randy’s hand last night.
It looks unimpressive, like the sort of thing you could buy for five dollars at a D.C.
gift shop, and yet I can’t stop smiling.
With the bracelet is a piece of parchment, folded up several times to fit in the parcel. I unfold it to reveal a message:
Congratulations! You’ve found a hidden immunity idol.
This idol will negate all votes cast against you or one other person of your choice at a single tribal council.
This idol must be played after the votes are cast, but before they are read.
The last opportunity to play it will be when there are five people remaining in the game. Choose wisely, and good luck.